St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-08-20
TROUBLE ABOUT RATES.
What Northern Pacific and Mani
tOba Officials Have to Say About


Them.
Some days ago the GLOBE published
the statement that the Manitoba and
Northern Pacific roads were preparing
wheat tariff quoting the rates the
same to Minneapolis and Duluth. This
has caused good deal of feeling at
Minneapolis, where the people claim
that sucn rate would be agreat injus-
tice to that city, and that less rate
should be made to Minneapolis than to
Duluth. inaSmuch as the haul is much
longer to the latter city than to Mime
apOlis. Officials of two roads were in
terviewed by GLOBE man yesterday.
Mr.. HannafOrd, traffic manager OF the
Northern Pacific, on being questioned,
said:
/ see no reason why there should be any
surprise expressed, or any war for suprem-
acy." There is no change in the Northern
Pacific. Since the first wheat tariffs were is
all points west of Brainerd to Duluth, st.
Paul and Minneapolis have been the same
The distance to Duluth is about twenty four
miles less, from every, point i'll the territory
mentioned. Last fall the Minneapolis L. Pa-
cific line reached eastern Dakota, entering
the territory about fifteen miles south of our
line, and when ready for business put into
effect rate to Minneapolis only, that was
something less than our rate to that point
That road has a shorter line than the North
ern Pacific and we recognize the right of
that road to make the rate. Last season the
wheat was nearly all moved before that road
put in its tariff and we did not see fit to meet
the rate named. We are now adjusting our
tariff and making the same rate to Minneapo-
lis and ST. Paul that the Minneapolis & Pa
cifc road made last fall. Our distance to
Duluth is twenty-four miles shorter than to
St. Paul. and / can see no sound argument
against our making the same rate for twenty
four miles less service, nor any reason for
fight over the matter unless the other roads
insist upon it,
FROM TIE MANITOBA.
One of the officers of the Manitoba
road, when asked in regard to the mat
ter, said:
The same system of adjustment of rates in
force on the Manitoba road the past four
years is in force to-day, except that the diff
ferential in favor of Minneapolis has been in
creased, and from every point south and east
of Fergus Falls Mimi, and Berlin Dak a
differential is made in favor of Minneapolis
This includes our WatertOwn branch. The
same proportionate reduction has been made
from Minneapolis as Duluth over our entire
system, from every point, whether affected
by competition or not. and strictly on he
ground that our earnings for the past year
justify this reduction Ill rates. The same gen-
eral reduction was made ON coal several weeks
ago. The same general reduction of about
33 per cent. was made i'll the merchandise
rates about two months ago. Since the adop-
ton of the interstate commerce law the Mani
tOba has persistently fought for the CONNER
cial interests of st. Paufand Minneapolis, and
has resulted in heavy loss of business to it
which it has heretofore carried from Chicago
and other Eastern points. The facts can be
obtained if they are desired, but so far the in
tnrr, -sx,-rA hoe k1nr. &c.
the question only, evidently for the purpose
of advertising certain interests. 1t has suited
the purpose of some roads, whose name we
do not care to mention, to protest against the
reductions which we propose making
for the benefit of the people along
the Manitoba system. The investments,
terminal facilities and improvements made
by the Manitoba road i'll the cities of st. Paul
and Minneapolis ought to be sufficient to
show that a discrimination against these two
cities would be simply suicidal. We are simply
forced to make the same rates to both points
where we come in competition with lines
operating from Duluth that have a shorter
mileage to Duluth than Minneapolis If
such lines should undertake to make lower
rate for longer distance than for shorter
they would be violating the spirit of the in
terstate and Minnesota railroad laws
If some Of the Chicago lines are so
Minneapolis and st. Paul, they have had
very singular way of showing such interest
since the passage of the interstate law. 1t is
not my desire 10 be personal in what say
but the shipping community of these two
cities at least understand 10 whom refer.
As to the future of the situation it is difficult
to tell what it viii be. In fact. the Manitoba
is not seriously disturbed. We shall go on
and protect the interests of The cities located
OH our system. independent OF sensational
interviews and questionable methods of adj
yertising new lines.''
THE MILWAUKEE.
The Milwaukee " st. Paul is the road
referred to. A correspondent in the
Chicago Times makes the followin.